necessary to attack this high fort first of all, and in order to carry out this plan the Second Regiment, which had been left to guard the field-guns, was ordered to advance to the assault. So soon as the order was given the Second Regiment rushed into the town, shooting down all opposition and engaging in a hand-to-hand encounter. Veering around, the men then stormed the forts on Hwangkin-shan. These were one and all occupied shortly after 4 P.M. The Mixed Brigade had in the meanwhile carried Laolai-tse by assault. At this moment strains of military music were heard coming from the parade and drill ground of one of the Chinese army divisions inside the town. This was soon recognized as the music of the band belonging to the staff of the Second Army. They were playing the grandly impressive national anthem of Japan-"Kimi ga yo." As the triumphant music echoed over the hard-fought field, the Japanese troops gave vent to their loyal enthusiasm in cheer upon cheer. With regard to the forts west of Hwangkin-shan, the attack was now suspended, the short autumn day being at an end. The First Division went into bivouac just north of the town of Port Arthur, while the Mixed Brigade took up a position on the left. The next day the Japanese troops advanced to attack the remaining forts, but found them deserted. The Chinese had decamped to the last man. More than twenty of the great forts on the Port Arthur peninsula had thus been conquered in a single day, and the Sun Flag waved proudly over the well-won field. As evening drew on again the troops were assembled on the vast parade-ground inside of Port Arthur. A general feast was held by those who had fought so bravely, and the hillsides gave back in sullen chorus the ringing cheers of their new masters, the unconquered Japanese. The number of Chinese guarding Port Arthur is estimated to have been over 20,000. Of these 7,000 were killed or wounded in the fight; 2,000 fled to Kinchow; and the rest dispersed in every direction. The Japanese captured the nine coast forts (60 cannon) and eleven inland forts (50 cannon); two small steamers; one foreign-built dredging vessel; one iron ship, still on the stocks; several hundred steel rails, and 30 fish-torpedoes. The total casualties on the Japanese side were 40 killed and more than 200 wounded. The taking of Wei-hai-wei, the second greatest of China's maritime fortresses, was remarkable for several reasons. In the first place the port was defended as seldom any port has been: encircled by massive forts filled with guns of the best make and heavy caliber; the sea approaches strewn with submarine torpedoes; the waterways barred with booms of prodigious strength; the finest vessels of the once great Peiyang Squadron afloat in the harbor, and ready to fight till they sank, the whole fleet being under the command of that brave man and gallant officer, Admiral Ting. Besides all this, it was where the Chinese made their last great stand: the culminating point of the conflict. If Wei-hai-wei held out, there was always some hope left for China: her battleships might still prevent the landing of troops anywhere near Pekin. And to do them naught but justice, the Chinese themselves recognized these facts and fought with the utmost valor at least, their fleet did. Nothing could be better than the record of this last great fight of the once-renowned Northern Squadron. But the leaders were out-generaled and the bravery of their men outbid by the Japanese, who, in the flush of victory, the consciousness of power, and the magnificent manner in which they were led on to conquer, were invincible. Everything, humanly speaking, was done to prevent the fall of Wei-hai-wei into Japan's hands; the very elements seemed to have espoused the cause of China, for a storm which will long be remembered raged for three days, with bitter cold and heavy snow, forcing the Japanese vessels back into the open sea and away from the threatened fortress. Moreover, it must be conceded that the Chinese seamen fought gallantly even when their defeat was a foregone conclusion; the garrisons on Liukung and Zhih Islands leaving a most enviable record behind them. But the port was lost, first of all, from the land side. The coast forts were not defended as they might have been. It is easy to talk ex post facto; yet it is undeniable that if the coast forts had made a better showing, the desperate valor of the imprisoned fleet might have postponed the day of defeat, if not turned the tide of fortune for once in China's favor. And both nations had cause to bemourn the battle. China, because she lost all, including her best and bravest naval commander; Japan, because of the death of Majorgeneral Odera, renowned alike for his personal courage and talents as a leader. If but half of what is said and written be true, Majorgeneral Odera was a very Paladin, a Bayard of the 19th century. Although Port Arthur had fallen, the Japanese could not be said to be the masters of the Gulf of Pechili unless Wei-hai-wei was reduced; nor could they act freely on the sea until the Peiyang Squadron definitely became a thing of the past. One leaf of the portal guarding the water-road to Pekin had been wrenched away; it now remained to tear down the other. And in order to effect this plan, it was necessary for the Japanese army to co-operate with the navy, so that Wei-hai-wei might be attacked from two sides at once. The attacks were successful. Japan conquered by land and by sea. On February 18 the headquarters of the army were established at Wei-hai-wei, and a great banquet was held in honor of the victory. Meanwhile the following correspondence had passed between the admirals of the fleets: "I, Ting, commander-in-chief of the Peiyang Squadron, acknowledge having previously received a letter from Vice-admiral Ito, commander of the Port of Saseho. This letter I have not answered until to-day, owing to the hostilities going on between our fleets. It had been my intention to continue fighting until overy one of my men-of-war were sunk and the last seaman killed; but I have reconsidered the matter and now request a truce, hoping thereby to save many lives. I beseech you most earnestly to refrain from further hurting the Chinese and Westerners in the service of the army and navy of China as well as the townspeople of Wei-hai-wei; in return for which I offer to surrender all my warships, the forts on Liukung and all material of war in and about Wei-hai-wei to the empire of Japan." The writer further added that if Vice-admiral Ito acceded to these terms, he desired to have the commander-in-chief of the British warships in the offing become the guarantor of the contract; finally, an answer was re quired by the next day. The letter was dated, in accordance with the Chinese calender, "18th day, 1st month, 21st year of Kwanghsu." Admiral Ito's reply ran thus: "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed favor and to accept the proposal therein contained. Accordingly I shall receive all the men-of-war, the forts, and all warlike material from your hands. As to the time when the surrender is to take place, I shall consult with you again on receiving your reply to this. My idea is, after taking delivery of everything, to escort you and the others referred to in your letter on board of one of our warships to some safe place, where your convenience may be suited. If I be permitted to speak quite frankly, I advise you, for your own and your country's sake, to remain in Japan until the war is over. Should you decide to come to my country, I assure you that you will be treated with distinguished consideration. But if you desire to return to your native land, I shall, of course, put no obstacles in your path. As for any British guarantee, I think it quite unnecessary, and trust fully in your honor as an officer and a gallant man. Requesting your reply to this by 10 A. M. to-morrow, I have the honor to remain," etc. CHAPTER XLVII THE BATTLE OF MANILA BLOWING UP OF THE "MAINE"-COURT OF INQUIRY-CONDITION OF CUBA-WEYLER'S PRONUNCIAMENTO - PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - DECLARATION OF WAR AT MANILA · DESTRUCTION OF THE SPANISH FLEET-STORY OF THE FAMOUS BATTLE A.D. 1898 N the night of February 15, 1898, the United States warship "Maine" was blown up in the harbor of Havana. The dispatch of this vessel to Cuban waters was a friendly act arranged by our government and that of Spain as one of a series of visits to be paid by the ironclads of the two |